How life has changed in Tewkesbury

Tewkesbury's population increased by about 5,500 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 82,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Tewkesbury increased by 7.2%, from about 76,400 to 81,900.

The addition of just over 5,500 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Tewkesbury was home to, on average, 1.4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Tewkesbury

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Tewkesbury increased by three years, from 41 to 44 years.

This area had a higher average age than the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 2,700 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 2,000.

About 13.0% of people in Tewkesbury are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Tewkesbury by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Tewkesbury

The percentage of Tewkesbury residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.7% to 7.5% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.5%, while the percentage of Tewkesbury residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89.8% to 89.4%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 7.0% in 2001 to 7.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Tewkesbury residents that were studying increased from 2.2% to 2.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 57.4%, while the percentage of Tewkesbury residents that were unemployed increased from 2.0% to 2.8%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were in education across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Tewkesbury

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Tewkesbury was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.9 points.

In 2011, 26.9% of respondents in Tewkesbury gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 14.0% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South West, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.5% to 32.2%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Tewkesbury, 71.7% said they were Christian, compared with 85.0% in 2001. About 0.4% said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, compared with 0.3% a decade prior.

In Tewkesbury, 7.1% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.0% in 2001. Across the South West, 7.9% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Tewkesbury increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South West and Tewkesbury by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Tewkesbury, but at a slower rate than in Gloucester (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Tewkesbury).

In Tewkesbury, the proportion of private renting increased from 7.5% in 2001 to 12.4% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Gloucester increased from 9.5% to 17.4%.

Across the South West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 11.1% to 17.0%.

The rate of social housing in Tewkesbury remained close to 11.9%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 78.1% to 73.6%.

Private renting in Tewkesbury increased by 4.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Tewkesbury, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Tewkesbury residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.0% to 4.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83.3%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71.8% in 2001. The percentage of Tewkesbury residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21.2% to 12.5%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Tewkesbury decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Tewkesbury, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Tewkesbury working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13.1% to 10.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13.3% in 2001 to 10.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Tewkesbury decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Tewkesbury, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Tewkesbury

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased here, but at a slower rate than in nearby Gloucester.

In Tewkesbury, the proportion of single people increased from 23.5% in 2001 to 26.1% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Gloucester increased from 28.7% to 34.1%.

Across the South West, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27.1% to 31.4%.

The proportion of married people in Tewkesbury fell from 57.6% to 54.6%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10.4% to 12.0%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Tewkesbury without children increased from 62.9% to 63.9% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (27.1%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 28.2% in 2001. The percentage of households in Tewkesbury with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.9% to 9.0%.

The proportion of households without children increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 63.8% in 2001 to 64.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61.2%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Tewkesbury residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.7% to 2.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.0% in 2001 to 2.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Tewkesbury remained close to 2.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Tewkesbury by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Tewkesbury, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.3% to 7.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (38.2%) households had a married couple, compared with 41.6% in 2001. While the percentage of households in Tewkesbury, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.2% to 10.1%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

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